I’m very new to the Drone scene (very recently purchased a DJI Mini 3 Pro) and will shortly post an introduction post.
In the meantime, I’m hoping someone can help me with a question about danger areas vs Crown Estate areas.
Where there are two conflicting authorities, ie. Crown Estate allowance of flying versus danger zone flight limitation, am I safe to assume that the danger zone overrules the over-foreshore allowance?
I’ll be in Dorset in August and want to make sure I don’t fly illegally, but also don’t want to unnecessarily avoid areas in which I am permitted to fly.
The Crown Estate allows flying over their property. The MoD at East Lulworth fire heavy artillery in the red area, using live ammunition. So both legally and pratically the MoD danger area trumps the Crown Estate wayleave.
Click on the red danger area and you will get a popup with much more detail:
And scroll down to the bottom of the popup and you get this:
Intermittent Airspace
This scheduled airspace is only active: On Mondays between 08:00 (UTC) and 23:59 (UTC), valid all year. On Mondays between 07:00 (UTC) and 23:59 (UTC), valid all year. On Tuesdays between 08:00 (UTC) and 23:59 (UTC), valid all year. On Tuesdays between 07:00 (UTC) and 23:59 (UTC), valid all year. On Wednesdays between 08:00 (UTC) and 23:59 (UTC), valid all year. On Wednesdays between 07:00 (UTC) and 23:59 (UTC), valid all year. On Thursdays between 08:00 (UTC) and 23:59 (UTC), valid all year. On Thursdays between 07:00 (UTC) and 23:59 (UTC), valid all year. On Fridays between 08:00 (UTC) and 16:00 (UTC), valid all year. On Fridays between 07:00 (UTC) and 15:00 (UTC), valid all year.
So early mornings and weekends seem to be ok. As always, check with the MoD just in case there is a change - this is the Gov.uk website:
Depends on the intricacies of it, you can fly in danger areas when they aren’t active, but the MOD do not like you flying over land they own (and look, even if legally you could, the MOD aren’t the group to pick a fight with really). If the MOD don’t own the land then the following will apply:
That danger area comes from it being shared between the army ranges, and the navy firing area.
It’s active Monday to Thrusday from 7AM till Midnight, and on Friday until 4 PM.
You might get permission to fly in that window if they arent running exercises, but for the coastal area you’ll need to contact both Army Ops (01929 404714) and navy FOST (01752 557550). Be polite and they’ll be appreciative that you called based of my experience, however they are still likely to say no. These contact numbers can be found on the firing times listing
*from their property. Only the CAA gets to decide which airspace you can’t fly over.
Basically Crown Estate are permissive about legal flight from their land as TOAL. If there’s an airspace restriction on any particular bit of foreshore/estuary then that’s an airspace restriction and separate from the land concern.
